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The Best — and Worst — Things About Working From Home

As of 2016, nearly half of American workers — 43% — were working remotely, at least sometimes, according to a Gallup poll. This number could increase in the future as more employers begin embracing the concept, which arguably benefits both employees and employers.

On the employer end, not paying for physical office space can cut overhead costs significantly. It also can be a morale boost for employees, as many who work from home love working from home — a 2018 survey by Buffer Stories found that 90% of remote workers plan to continue working remotely for the rest of their careers. And despite the stigma that work-from-home employees are more likely to slack off, remote workers are actually more productive than those who work in an office, which results from a reduction in break time and sick days, plus a more comfortable work environment, a 2015 study found.

While there certainly are benefits of working from home, there are also some drawbacks to working outside of an office. But let’s start with the positives.

Best Things About Working From Home

There’s a reason why 90% of employees who work from home said they want to continue doing so. Actually, there are several reasons. These are some of the biggest perks of escaping the 9-to-5 office grind.

You Save Time by Not Commuting

The average American’s commute time is roughly 26 minutes, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That means that most people spend just under an hour driving to and from work every day. That’s extra time you could use to get in a workout or spend with your family.

You Can Avoid Distracting Co-Workers

Working in an office environment means you’re opening yourself up to constant interruptions from co-workers. Some actually might want to chat about something useful, but others might just want to talk your ear off about what they did this weekend or what their kids have been up to. When you work from home, you avoid these daily interruptions.

You Can Work From Anywhere With an Internet Connection

“Working from home” typically means not working in an office, so you really can work from anywhere where you have a computer and internet access unless your job requires a bunch of other supplies. This frees you up to travel more, or even to work from a more pleasant spot in your neighborhood, such as a coffee shop with outdoor seating.

You End Up Saving Money

By working from home, you save money on gas, public transportation or Uber costs by cutting out your commute, and you save money in other ways too. You’ll probably be less tempted to stop at the Starbucks on the corner or go out for lunch every day when you can brew your own coffee or whip up a salad or sandwich in your kitchen. That means you’ll save on food every week. And with no co-workers to impress with your outfit of the day, you’ll save money on clothes and dry cleaning.

You Don't Have To Get Dressed Up

There’s no need to put on a suit or spend an hour fixing your hair and putting on makeup when you work from home. Not only is it more comfortable to work in your sweats, but you save the time it takes to get ready.

You Can Take Phone Calls Without Co-Workers Listening In

Many people now work in an office with an open floor plan, making it nearly impossible to have a sense of privacy at work. When you work from home, you can freely make and receive phone calls without having to worry about nosy desk neighbors.

You Can Run Errands at Off Times

Since most people work 9-to-5 hours, you have to battle the crowds to get a parking spot at the gym or a spot in the line at the grocery store in the traditional after-work hours. When you have the freedom to run to Target at 3 p.m., you can avoid the rush — which means easier parking and shorter lines.

You Can Make Your Own Schedule

Depending on your job, you might be able to choose your own work hours when you work remotely. This means you can have a leisurely morning or get the kids off to school and start your day later, or you can bang out all of your tasks first thing and have the rest of your day free.

You Can Literally 'Phone It In' During Meetings

If you’re a remote worker, it’s especially important to be engaged during phone or video meetings, as these are your main opportunities for “face time” with your managers and co-workers. However, when you’re obligated to attend a meeting that’s really a waste of your time, you can just call in, put your phone on mute and work on a task that’s a more productive use of those minutes.

You're Home To Accept Packages

It’s always a bummer when you’ve been eagerly awaiting a package, only to come home to find you missed the delivery person and you now have to wait an extra day or two to get the package or retrieve it from a pick-up center. When you work from home, you’re always there when FedEx or UPS shows up.

You Can Blast Your Music as Loudly as You Want

There’s no need for headphones and low-volume listening when you work from home. You can blast your favorite playlist at whatever volume you want when your office is in your house.

You Can Create Your Dream Office Space

Whether your dream office is full of pink, fluffy details or is dark and austere, you can create the vibe that you want when you’re in total control of the decor.

Worst Things About Working From Home

Sure, working in your pajamas every day can be great. But there are some real negative aspects of working from home, too.

A Lack of Face Time Can Make It Harder To Get a Promotion

Research has shown that actually being present at work and being observed by others when working has positive outcomes for employees, including receiving better work assignments and being able to advance more quickly. When employees work remotely, it is more difficult to show commitment to their jobs and therefore could make it harder to get promoted.

You're Always 'On'

Some remote workers compensate for their lack of face time by always being “on” as a way to show their commitment. This means you might get stuck responding to emails and attending meetings outside of your normal work hours. There never seems to be time off the job.

You're More Likely To Sacrifice Time With Family

A 2019 study published in Organization Science found that remote employees at two Fortune 100 companies were more likely than in-office workers to sacrifice time with family to work in order to prove their commitment to their jobs.

It Can Feel Isolating

Most Americans spend the majority of their waking hours working, and if you work by yourself, that means you spend most of your time by yourself.

You're More Likely To Work Overtime

The same study also found that overtime work is more common among remote workers, especially if they work in a different time zone from those who work in the office.

It's Harder To Know What's Really Going On at Your Company

Working in an office makes you privy to water cooler gossip you don’t get when you work from home. While some of this info is worthless, sometimes you get tipped off to major company shifts that you wouldn’t otherwise have time to mentally prepare for or react to.

You Miss Out On Work Friendships

In addition to feeling isolated, working by yourself can cause you to miss out on developing valuable personal relationships with your co-workers.

There's No Real Sense of Separation Between Work and the Rest of Your Day

When you work in an office, you often can leave the workday behind you once you walk out the door. Home is your sanctuary where you can escape from the work stress and truly relax. However, when your home is also your office, it can be harder to make that mental shift.

It Can Turn You Into a Hermit

If you don’t make a conscious effort to step outside and away from your desk during the workday, or at least leave your house for lunch or dinner, you can spend the entire day at home. That easily can turn into multiple days of being cooped up if you’re not careful.

You Have To Deal With Tech Issues Yourself

If your internet goes down or your laptop malfunctions, you have to deal with it yourself. Someone from your company’s IT department might be able to help you remotely, but even then, it’s not the same as being in the same place as your tech support.

You Have To Be Self-Motivated

It’s easy to stay on track when you work in an office environment and your manager or boss could step into your office or cube at any moment. When you work at home, it can be tempting to take long breaks or get sucked into doing tasks not related to your job. Unless you’re self-motivated and self-disciplined, working from home can kill your productivity.

It's Harder To Collaborate On Projects

Thanks to video meetings and interoffice messaging apps such as Slack, it’s easy to communicate with co-workers instantaneously and virtually face-to-face. But sometimes there’s no real replacement for actual face time when you want to bounce ideas off your co-workers or get their honest feedback.